Electric shaver

ABSTRACT

The electric shaver of this invention comprises a housing having a slotted head, and drive means for moving an endless cutting band within the housing continuously in one direction across the head to cut whiskers projecting through the slots.

United States Patent 1 1 lnvemor 2,691,216 10/1954 Ross 30/4l.6 x 340Lakeland. Grosse Pointe, Mich. l 2 Nahon 30/40 X 5;: 2159: 19683,158,932 12/1964 Brewer 30/43.6

1 e ov. 145 Patented Aug. 3. 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS 753,882 8/1933 France30/43.92 1,174,652 7/1964 Germany 30/43.6 154] ELECTRIC SHAVER 1,209,0221/1966 Germany 30/43.6 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. 221,070 8/1942Switzerland /40.l 52 us. c1 30/43.6, 2749 M951 Swltzerland W43;

ISO/41.6, 30/90 Primary ExaminerRobert C. Riordon [5 I Int. Cl B26b19/14 Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap Field of Search..30/40.1,41, 41.8, 43, 43.5, 43.6, 43.4, 90, 45, 42

{56] Reerences cued ABS'iRAC'lj: The electric shaver of this inventioncomprises a housmg havmg a slotted head, and drlve means for moving anUNITED STATES PATENTS endless cutting band within the housingcontinuously in one 1,199,706 9/1916 McNichol 30/42 direction across thehead to cut whiskers projecting through 1,713,079 5/1929 Hall 30/40.1 Xthe slots.

A y 1 10o A I 1 I I 1 I l ELECTRIC SHAVER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It isa primary object of this invention to provide an electric shaver havingan endless cutting band driven continuously in one direction.

Another object is to provide an electric shaver in which there is littleor no vibration, due to the fact that the cutting band does notreciprocate but rather moves continuously in one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shaver having teeth inwhich the cutting edges are inclined at an acute angle with respect tothe direction of movement of the band so that the shaver has both aclipping and a slicing or shearing action.

Another object is to provide a shaver having an anvil for resilientlypressing the cutting band against the slotted portion of the head.

Another object is to provide rollers for guiding the endless cuttingband which are convexly rounded to impart a corresponding cross sectionto the band so as to strengthen the band while it is cutting whiskersand also to tension the outer edges of the band.

Another object is to provide a shaver having a slotted head in which theslots consist of three laterally spaced rows of openings, and theendless cutting band has a succession of cutting teeth along itsopposite edges movable past the two outermost rows of openings and acentral succession of cutting teeth movable past the remaining row ofopenings.

Another object is to provide a novel drive unit in which the cuttingband extends about a driven member in the shaver housing driven by anelectric motor which extends at least part way into the driven member,and preferably in which the shaft upon which the driven member rotatesis disposed axially within the hollow output shaft of the motor.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa shaver embodying my inventionshowing the front housing cover removed and with parts in section.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the shaver.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view with parts in section.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the endless cutting band.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the shaver.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9in FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the electric shaver ofmy invention is generally designated 10 and includes a housing 12comprising a rear housing section 14, a front housing section 16 and ahead 18. The two housing sections 14 and 16 are removably securedtogether in any suitable means as by the fastening elements 20. Thefront and rear housing sections have upstanding ears 22 at their upperends, and the head 18 is preferably in the form of a stamping or shellwhich may be fitted and snapped over the ears and either held in placeby friction or by releasable securing means such as the fasteners 17. Achamber 21 beneath the cars 22 is provided to receive clippings and isopen at the ends so that the clippings may be cleared out of the chamberas by the use of a brush.

The head 18 is an elongated member and has a slotted top section 19 asshown particularly in FIG. 3. The slots in head 18 consist of three rows24, 26 and 28 of openings which are parallel to one another and extendlengthwise of the head. The

openings in each row are preferably spaced apart uniform distances.

The shaver also includes an endless cutting band 30 which is disposed inthe housing and is adapted to be driven in one direction by a suitabledrive more fully hereinafter described, also located within the housing.The band 30 is adapted to move lengthwise under the slotted top section19 of the head and for this purpose a pair of guide rollers 32 areprovided. The guide rollers have reduced end spindles 34 which aresuitably journaled in the ears 22 of the front and rear sections of thecover. The rollers 32 are convexly crowned in a longitudinal directionas best seen in FIG. 9. This crowning of the rollers 32 imparts asimilar cross section to the section of the cutting band 30 between therollers as seen in FIG. 7. The transverse arching of this section of thecutting band 30 thus strengthens it for cutting and tensions theopposite longitudinal edges of the band along which cutting teeth areprovided as more fully explained hereinafter. It will be noted in FIG. 7that the slotted top section 19 of the head is also transversely archedto match the contour of the section of the cutting band between therollers.

To keep the cutting band 30 tight, a roller 33 is urged against the bandby a spring 35 mounted inside the housing. Anvils 36 and 37 are disposedunder the slotted portion of the head within the housing to back up andsupport the section of the cutting band 30 between rollers 32. As seenin FIG. 7, these anvils are elongated members extending lengthwise ofthe space between rollers 32 and are of T-shaped cross section. Eachanvil has a depending stem 38 extending downward into a slot 39 in thehead of the housing, and has a crossmember 40 at the top of the stem tobear against and support the undersurface of the cutting band. The topsurfaces of the crossmembers 40 are of the form shown in FIG. 7 toprovide a surface-to-surface supporting contact with the arched orcrowned section of the cutting band 30 in the spaces between the rows24, 26 and 28 of openings in the head.

The anvils are assembled in the housing by pressing the stems 38 downinto the slots. The stems have projections 41 on the opposite sidesreceivable in openings 42 to locate the anvils in the correct positionsfor shaving. The walls of the housing forming slots 39 are resilientlyyieldable so as to expand slightly and permit the projections 41 to passbetween the walls as they are pressed downward into operative positionuntil the projections 41 snap into the openings 42. Leaf springs 43 areprovided at the bottoms of the slots to impose an upward tension on theanvils. The projections 41 thus facilitate the assembly of the anvils.

The anvils maintain a predetermined yielding upward pressure upon thecutting band pressing the same into yielding contact with theundersurface of the head 18. The openings 42 are slightly enlargedvertically relative to projections 41 so that the projections arepermitted a small degree of vertical movement to allow the yieldingupward pressure of the anvils on the cutting band. Prior to assembly ofthe cutting band, the openings 42 permit the anvils to be pushed upwardby springs 43 slightly beyond their operative positions of engagementwith the band.

The drive for the band includes a hollow cup-shaped driven member whichhas a cylindrical flange 52 coated with plastic 53 over which thecutting band 30 extends. The end 54 of the driven member is open and theelectric motor 56 extends into the driven member 50 through the openend. As seen in FIG. 7, the electric motor 56 is mounted within achamber 58 formed within the housing by an annular flange 60 and a cover62 for the flange removably secured thereto by suitable securing meanssuch as the fasteners 64. This chamber including the flange 60 and cover62 also of course extend into the hollow driven member 50.

The output shaft 66 of the motor is tubular and has a pinion 68 keyed onits outer end which is in driving engagement with the larger gear 70.Gear 70 as well as pinion 72 are keyed upon the shaft 74 which isjournaled in the cover 62, and pinion 72 is in mesh with the larger gear76 secured as by rivets 78 to the base 80 of the hollow driven member50. At this point it will be noted that the shaft 82 upon which thedriven member 50 is mounted, is journaled for rotation within thetubular drive shaft 66 of the motor, the end of shaft 82 also beingjournaled in a boss 84 in the rear section 14 of the housmg.

The drive thus described, in which the motor 56 extends into the drivenmember 50 and the driven member shaft 82 is disposed in the tubularmotor output shaft 66, is very compact and enables the overalldimensions of the shaver to be reduced.

The cutting band 30 has a series of cutting teeth 86 along one edge anda series of cutting teeth 88 along the opposite edge. The teeth 86 and88 have the cutting edges 90 which will be seen to be inclined at anacute angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the band.With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, it will be understood that the teeth86 and 88 register with the outermost rows 24 and 28 of openings in theslotted head 18 and in the operation of the shaver move past theopenings in such rows. The band 30 also has the center series of cuttingteeth 92 which are in the form of elongated transversely extending slotsspaced-apart along the longitudinal centerline of the band. The cuttingedges of these teeth are designated 94 and it will be understood thatthe teeth 92 are in register with the center'row of openings 26 in theslotted head and move past such openings during operation of the shaver.

Referring to FIG. 5, a replaceable pad 100 of felt or the like materialpreferably treated with a lubricant is provided to keep the cutting band30 clean. As shown, the felt pad is an elongated member having a slit102 in one end through which the cutting band extends. The slit isrelieved or enlarged both at its inner and outer ends as indicated at104 and 106 to clear the rows of teeth 86 and 88 along the oppositeedges of the band. The pad is preferably of rectangular cross sectionhaving one cross dimension greater than the other and is receivable in asuitable transverse opening 108 of similar cross section in the housing,the opening being closed by a cap 109 threaded into the housing wall.The purpose of the rectangular cross section for the pad is to insurethat the pad is inserted properly to receive the cutting band. It willbe understood that the pad may be easily removed and replaced withanother after it has become worn or used up.

A pair of hinged covers 110 and 112 are provided for the purposeofeither closing the ends of the chamber 21 or of protecting the head ofthe shaver. As seen, these covers are substantially U-shaped and havethe free ends of the flanges pivoted to opposite sides of the shaverhousing by pivot pins 114. The intermediate or web portions of thesecovers connecting the flanges constitute the guard portions thereof. Inthe down position of the covers shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the guardportions of the covers close the ends of the chamber 21. In the uppositions of the covers shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, they overlieand protect the shaving head. The flanges of the covers have projections1116 on their inner surfaces which are resiliently engageable inrecesses 120 in the housing to retain the covers in the down positionand also are resiliently engageable in housing recesses 124 to retainthe covers in the up position.

In the operation of the device, and with the covers 1 and 112 down, theshaver will be moved over the face of the user and the whiskers willproject into the slots in the head 18 to be cut by a combined clippingand slicing or shearing action of the teeth 86, E8 and 92 of the band30. The head must be thin enough so that the whiskers'will projectthrough the slots, consistent with requirements of strength. The spacingbetween slots in the head and between teeth in the band may vary. Forexample, if the slots in each row of slots in the head are spaceduniformly on centers 0.019 inches apart, the cutting edges of the teethin each row on the band might be spaced apart 0.02l inches. Thisdifference in spacing between the slots of the head and the cuttingedges of the teeth is provided so that the teeth do not all cut at oncewhereby the load on the electric motor is reduced.

The anvils may be of any suitable construction and for example may be ofa self-lubricating material such as Teflon. The anvil might also be madefor example of a powdered metal impregnated with a lubricant. It isdesirable that the anvil be of a material which has a lubricating actionon the cutting band. The covers and 112 can be moved to their uppositions protecting the head and also exposing the chamber 21 forcleaning.

What I claim as my invention is:

I. An electric shaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, saidhead being an elongated portion of said housing, an endless cutting bandwithin said housing, means guiding said band for movement across saidhead to cut whiskers projecting in through the slots in said head, saidguide means including rollers within said housing and at opposite endsof said head over which said band extends, said rollers being convexlycrowned to impart a corresponding cross section to the section of theband between said rollers, and drive means in said housing for movingsaid band continuously in one direction.

2. An electric shaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, saidhead being an elongated portion of said housing, the slots in said headincluding three laterally spaced rows of openings extendingsubstantially from end to end of said head, an endless cutting bandwithin said housing, means guiding said band for movement across saidhead to cut whiskers projecting in through the slots in said head, saidband having a succession of edge cutting teeth along its opposite edgesmovable past the two outermost rows of openings in the head and asuccession of center cutting teeth movable past the remaining row ofopenings in the head, said guiding means including rollers within saidhousing at opposite ends of said head for guiding the section of theband between said rollers, anvil means in operative engagement with thesection of the band between the rollers resiliently urging the sametoward the series of openings in said head, and drive means in saidhousing for moving said band continuously in one direction.

3. The shaver defined in claim 2, wherein the spacing of said edge andcenter cutting teeth is different than the spacing of the openings inthe three rows past which said teeth move so that the teeth out atdifferent times and thereby reduce the load on said drive means.

4. An electric shaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, anendless cutting band within said housing, means guiding said band formovement across said head to cut whiskers projecting in through theslots in said head, drive means in said housing for moving said bandcontinuously in one direction, said drive means including an electricmotor mounted in said housing, a hollow driven member mounted in saidhousing, a transmission between said motor and driven member to rotatethe latter, said motor projecting into said hollow driven member, saiddriven member having an annular cylindrical flange over which said bandextends to be moved continuously thereby in said one direction, one endof said flange being open and through which said motor projects intosaid driven member, said motor having a tubular output shaft in drivingengagement with said transmission, and a shaft supporting said drivenmember for rotation and itself being disposed within said tubular outputshaft.

5. An electric shaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, anendless cutting band within said housing, means guiding said band formovement across said head to cut whiskers projecting in through theslots in said head, drive means in said housing for moving said bandcontinuously in one direction, a chamber within said housing beneathsaid band for the accu' mulation of whiskers, said chamber having anopening through a side of the housing, and a cover member mounted onsaid housing for movement from a position covering the chamber openingand uncovering said head to a position uncovering said chamber openingand covering said head.

6. An electric shaver comprising a housing having an elongated slottedhead, an endless cutting band within said housing, means guiding saidband for movement in a plane normal to said head for movement of asection of said band lengthwise of and in substantiallysurface-to-surface relation with said head, said guiding means includingrollers within said housing at opposite ends of said head over whichsaid band extends, anvil means within said housing between said rollersdisposed beneath said section of said band to back up and support thesame against said head during shaving, said band having a succession ofcutting teeth along its length adapted to cut whiskers projecting inthrough the slots in said head, and drive means in said housing formoving said band continuously in one direction.

7. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, wherein said band has asuccession of said cutting teeth the cutting surfaces of which are allinclined in the same direction with respect to the longitudinalcenterline of said band, and said slots include a row of spaced openingstraversed by said cutting teeth during movement of said band asaforesaid.

8. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, including means resilientlypressing said anvil means toward said section of the band between saidrollers.

9. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, wherein said band has asuccession of said cutting teeth along at least one longitudinal edgethereof, said head being convexly crowned in a transverse direction, andsaid section of said band backed up against said head by said anvilmeans having the same crowned configuration imparted to it so as tostrengthen the toothed edge thereof.

10. The shaver defined in claim 6, wherein said slots include a row ofspaced openings past which said cutting teeth move, the spacing of saidopenings being different than the spacing of said cutting teeth so thatthe teeth out at different times to thereby reduce the load on saiddrive means.

1. An electric shaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, saidhead being an elongated portion of said housing, an endless cutting bandwithin said housing, means guiding said band for movement across saidhead to cut whiskers projecting in through the slots in said head, saidguide means including rollers within said housing and at opposite endsof said head over which said band extends, said rollers being convexlycrowned to impart a corresponding cross section to the section of theband between said rollers, and drive means in said housing for movingsaid band continuously in one direction.
 2. An electric shavercomprising a housing having a slotted head, said head being an elongatedportion of said housing, the slots in said head including threelaterally spaced rows of openings extending substantially from end toend of said head, an endless cutting band within said housing, meansguiding said band for movement across said head to cut whiskersprojecting in through the slots in said head, said band having asuccession of edge cutting teeth along its opposite edges movable pastthe two outermost rows of openings in the head and a succession ofcenter cutting teeth movable past the remaining row of openings in thehead, said guiding means including rollers within said housing atopposite ends of said head for guiding the section of the band betweensaid rollers, anvil means in operative engagement with the section ofthe band between the rollers resiliently urging the same toward theseries of openings in said head, and drive means in said housing formoving said band continuously in one direction.
 3. The shaver defined inclaim 2, wherein the spacing of said edge and center cutting teeth isdifferent than the spacing of the openings in the three rows past whichsaid teeth move so that the teeth cut at different times and therebyreduce the load on said drive means.
 4. An electric shaver comprising ahousing having a slotted head, an endless cutting band within saidhousing, means guiding said band for movement across said head to cutwhiskers projecting in through the slots in said head, drive means insaid housing for moving said band continuously in one direction, saiddrive means including an electric motor mounted in said housing, ahollow driven member mounted in said housing, a transmission betweensaid motor and driven member to rotate the latter, said motor projectinginto said hollow driven member, said driven member having an annularcylindrical flange over which said band extends to be moved continuouslythereby in said one direction, one end of said flange being open andthrough which said motor projects into said driven member, said motorhaving a tubular output shaft in driving engagement with saidtransmission, and a shaft supporting said driven member for rotation anditself being disposed within said tubular output shaft.
 5. An electricshaver comprising a housing having a slotted head, an endless cuttingband within said housing, means guiding said band for movement acrosssaid head to cut whiskers projecting in through the slots in said head,drive means in said housing for moving said band continuously in onedirection, a chamber within said housing beneath said band for theaccumulation of whiskers, said chamber having an opening through a sideof the housing, and a cover member mounted on said housing for movementfrom a position covering the chamber opening and uncovering said head toa position uncovering said chamber opening and covering said head.
 6. Anelectric shaver comprising a housing having an elongated slotted head,an endless cutting band within said housing, means guiding said band formovement in a plane normal to said head for movement of a section ofsaid band lengthwise of and in substantially surface-to-surface relationwith said head, said guiding means including rollers within said housingat opposite ends of said head over which said band extends, anvil meanswithin said housing between said rollers disposed beneath said sectionof said band to back up and support the same against said head duringshaving, said band having a succession of cutting teeth along its lengthadapted to cut whiskers projecting in through the slots in said head,and drive means in said housing for moving said band continuously in onedirection.
 7. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, wherein said bandhas a succession of said cutting teeth the cutting surfaces of which areall inclined in the same direction with respect to the longitudinalcenterline of said band, and said slots include a row of spaced openingstraversed by said cutting teeth during movement of said band asaforesaid.
 8. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, including meansresiliently pressing said anvil means toward said section of the bandbetween said rollers.
 9. The electric shaver defined in claim 6, whereinsaid band has a succession of said cutting teeth along at least onelongitudinal edge thereof, said head being convexly crowned in atransverse direction, and said section of said band backed up againstsaid head by said anvil means having the same crowned configurationimparted to it so as to strengthen the toothed edge thereof.
 10. Theshaver defined in claim 6, wherein said slots include a row of spacedopenings past which said cutting teeth move, the spacing of saidopenings being different than the spacing of said cutting teeth so thatthe teeth cut at different times to thereby reduce the load on saiddrive means.